Eating at Canberra's National Instutions

Canberra, seat of Australia's government is home to national institutions including the Parliament House, National Library, National Gallery, National Archives and Australian War Memorial. How well do the cafes and restaurants in these institutions relate to the buildings and how effectively do they extend the visitor experience?

Four of the most prominent national flagships are situated along the lake within the parliamentary triangle. A preferred first call is the National Gallery of Australia, designed by Edwards Madigan Torzillo Briggs in the 1970s. Tired-looking, nevertheless still the throbbing visual arts heart of the nation. Complementing this the Juniperberry at the NGA cafe, a superb spacious restaurant overlooking the sculpture garden provides a good selection of food, including excellent soups. Spicy chicken, tomato, and guacomole wrap is a favourite. At the Exhibition restaurant (formerly Mirrabook) in the sculpture garden a fog fountain envelops the reedy pond at regular intervals providing an ethereal and romantic setting for the diner: open spring through to autumn. The gallery's Members Lounge offers an unsurpassed view over the garden to Lake Burley Griffin and Mount Ainslie beyond. (Juniperberry formerly of Red Hill now cater for all the Gallery's food outlets)

Move next door to the High Court of Australia. More mature architecturally than the NGA and designed by the same architects the building is auspicious. An impressive sloping forecourt approach extends through the grand spacious foyers on a lofty processional path to the exciting ambience of the Sufficient Grounds cafe again with lake views. The food experience, not so complementary, is middle-of-the-road for the price. Questacon - National Science and Technology Centre situated between the High Court and the National Library on the journey west attracts the curious minds of young and old. One cannot miss the cafe's bold entry location and recently improved look inside the bright white lofty interiors which push out to the eating terrace with protected northern aspect. The food is fair and the scene vibrant, matching the techno-architecture as much as the Parliamentary Zone permits. Concluding these lakeside icons is the National Library of Australia with its highly reputed and popular Southbank Restaurant.This has re-opened as an excellent cafe called Bookplates. It is situated off the foyer, opening onto a terrace overlooking the Lake. It's a brilliant aspect and a much needed addition to the experience of visiting the Library. Breathtakingly beautiful Leonard French stained-glass windows are a distinct advantage for this venue. The Library's obscurely located Brindabella Bistro on level 4 provides cafeteria fare to service the 450 plus staff and the visitors who may eat there and suffers the restricted fenestration of a classic closed temple style library aesthetic.

With its well-mannered architecture of the 1930s and located on the major land axis the restored Old Parliament House also housing the National Portrait Gallery has the appropriately titled Backbenches, a restaurant/cafe situated through the cloistered courtyard. On fine days eating out on the terrace is a distinct pleasure. For visitors to this historic building it is a charmingly nostalgic dining experience. The food is middle-of-the-road at reasonable prices suiting a wide variety of tastes. A privately run New York style sandwich bar across the road attached to the Lobby Restaurant is a staff favorite.

The pinnacle destination in the parliamentary triangle and heralded by the Australian flag above is Parliament House, a remarkable expose of design, materials and craftsmanship besides housing a significant collection of artworks. Served by the licensed Queens Terrace Cafe, which from its location and dramatic vantage-point over the great verandah commands a fantastic view down the land axis over the lake to the distant Australian War Memorial.

Nearby, The National Archives unfortunately provides no eating place; this is regrettable since the building with its recently restored 1930s architecture and history including serving WW2 as a post office is enlightening to visit. Of the same architectural 30's style with particular deco embellishment is Screen Sound Australia the National Film and Sound Archive within the ANU. Here Talkies cafe fits the genre suiting a cosy intimate raconteur and opens to a cloistered garden courtyard, great for a spring day with tea and muffins.

The Australian War Memorial's new cafe The Landing has now opened in the newly completed Denton Corker Marshall designed Anzac Hall situated at the rear of the imposing Byzantine Memorial building. The cafe is classy, with fine lunch fare and good coffee. The old Poppies Cafe on the hill at the right of the main building has been updated and given a modern look and retitled Outpost. Both are catered for by the Hyatt. The food in Outpost is a huge improvement on the old cafe.

The National Museum of Australia designed by ARM:RPvHT; a spectacular architectural keystone to the centenary of Federation celebration. It boasts a significant restaurant cafe, run by the Hyatt, with a northerly aspect and terrace dining overlooking Lake Burley Griffin with a city backdrop.

At the foot of Black Mountain in a maturing unique landscape setting the Australian National Botanic Gardens cafe is catered by Hudsons of Dickson. The landscape experience of spacious lawns, gardens and ponds eclipses the less significant building in this context. Flowing out to the generous terrace the cafe provides reasonable fare and wine and caters for suppers, buffets, champagne brunches and cocktail parties at reasonable cost.

Prepare now for the climb up to Telstra Tower. The Tower Restaurant top end of the restaurant/cafe scene, literally, perched high above the peak of Black Mountain is the exhilarating revolving dining experience day or night: well worth the top end prices for that special occasion. One gets a strong sense of dependence on the central tower. In addition a cafe and snack bar provide modest choice refreshments for daily visitors. A superlative match to this 360 degree grand vista is gained from the Mount Stromlo Observatory off the Cotter Road; an experience definitely not to be missed when visiting Canberra. Apart from looking at the great telescope and hearing a fascinating talk about what our astronomers find in the heavens it boasts a super Red Belly Black Cafe with quiches, pies, salads and sandwiches, tasty and well presented with good coffee. Sitting in or out on a fine day, the view of the surrounding Brindabella mountains is breathtaking.

The Royal Australian Mint has a basic cafe. Justifiable tuck-shop cuisine suits the majority patron group and the small prices ease the big outlay for special coin merchandise. The closed in space neglects an opportunity to exploit the Black Mountain view and a theme decor could better promote its image. Discovery, the CSIRO National Centre for showcasing Australian science and technology opened May 2000 is becoming a very popular educational and general audience destination. The well organised and catered Discovery Cafe fits in the contemporary architecture parlance; rigorous, lively, spatially exciting and skillfully detailed; quietly pushing the boundaries like the research it showcases. A snack break from visual/mental indigestion of information overload at the Tourist Information Centre is quietly catered for by Ko Ko Cafe with its pocket garden court This anecdotal 1990's curved roof, glass and perforated metal (a little rusty at the edges) lineal library of all you want to know about Canberra and the region provides a veritable sample pack of accommodation and attractions.

Feel like a run after all this feeding the mind and body then out to The Australian Institute of Sport. Importantly located in the Visitor Centre, front door to the Institute, its Time Out Cafe fits an essential need to have a good eating place in this landlocked location remote from alternatives. Well recommended personal service with naturally healthy food. Been earth bound so far, still have puff and want something really remote then off to the heavens Canberra Space Centre (NASA) at Tidbinbilla Deep Space Communication Complex. Here the celestial set Moon Rock Cafe brings one down to earth, affording ample satisfaction. The National Capital Exhibition at Regatta Point re-opens with a brand new exhibition in September 2000. Its Regatta Cafe and Restaurant maintains its customary service and cuisine.

Summary

Best views: Telecom Tower, Mount Stromlo, High Court, and National Gallery of Australia

Best food: National Gallery of Australia, Telecom Tower

David Mollison & Betty Snowden 2000, revised 2002

© David Mollison ∓ Betty Snowden 2000-2002